Leeds United had Illan Meslier to thank as they held on to a 0-0 draw with high-flying Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies, who had gained seven in a row heading into this one, loved 60% of the ball and 16 pictures on aim however merely couldn’t discover a well past the Frenchman in Leeds’ web.
An entertaining affair was kicked off with an opportunity from Chris Wooden who, surprisingly, discovered area behind the Leeds again line and rounded Meslier along with his first contact, however he could not type his ft out and fluffed the shot from a good angle.
Newcastle have been full of life in possession however Leeds appeared a risk themselves going the opposite approach within the first half, though the hosts had the higher possibilities within the first half as Fabian Schar headed extensive and each Dan Burn and Sven Botman did not beat Meslier – the Newcastle defenders doing a lot of the heavy lifting in assault.
Schar additionally needed a penalty late within the first half after happening beneath duress from Tyler Adams however the referee was having none of it.
After the break, Schar had one more sight of aim as he fired over from a nook, earlier than Meslier acquired down effectively to disclaim Wooden, and Schar was as soon as once more thwarted by the Leeds stopper as his header was turned across the submit.
The strain on the Leeds aim was immense and Sean Longstaff ought to have completed higher as he discovered some area within the field shortly after the hour mark, as a substitute sending his effort excessive and extensive – a feat he repeated 5 minutes later after a cut-back from Miguel Almiron.
It was defence vs assault for giant components of the second half, with Leeds throwing 11 males behind the ball in an try to stifle Newcastle. Whereas the Magpies did have their possibilities, Leeds positively stopped them from reaching their finest.
The story of the day was summed up 5 minutes from time as Joelinton labored his approach into the field and blazed into the stands, with Eddie Howe’s aspect compelled to accept a draw.
GK: Nick Pope (7); RB: Kieran Trippier (8); CB: Sven Botman (7); CB: Fabian Schar (7); LB: Dan Burn (7); DM: Bruno Guimaraes (7); CM: Joe Willock (6); CM: Sean Longstaff (7); RW: Miguel Almiron (7); ST: Chris Wooden (6); LW: Joelinton (7).
SUB: Callum Wilson (5); Allan Saint-Maximin (6); Jacob Murphy (6).
GK: Illan Meslier (8); RB: Luke Ayling (6); CB: Robin Koch (7); CB: Liam Cooper (8); LB: Pascal Struijk (7); DM: Adam Forshaw (7); DM: Tyler Adams (7); RW: Brenden Aaronson (5); AM: Jack Harrison (7); LW: Wilfried Gnonto (6); ST: Rodrigo Moreno (6).
SUB: Marc Roca (7); Mateusz Klich (6); Crysencio Summerville (6); Rasmus Kristensen (6); Joe Gelhardt (6).
